NYC duplex tour..

Hi darlings! I thought I'd slip in yet another splendid house tour before I continue on with the 'detox series'.

I sighed from my toes in pleasure when seeing the images of this NY duplex home over at 'Casa Très Chic'. 
I really like the architectural bones of the house, as well as the scaled back yet warm decor. There are so many layers of details to note so please take your time..!

This quiet and rather 'masculine' decor appeals to me and I get a modern hint of 'African Colonial gent's club' though the colours, those wonderful chairs, as well as that fabulous over-sized potted palm tree. To me, the room wouldn't have the same appeal without that splash of life and greenery. And of course the floor to ceiling windows help too. They seem to go on for ever don't they!?!

All images from the lovely 'Casa Tres Chic'.

Back soon.. Mmwaaah for now.

xx Charlotta

Stockholm minimalism..

Hi darlings. Due to one of the kidlets being ill I am a little bit behind with the next detox post, so I thought I would share this crisp and minimal apartment in the heart of lovely Stockholm instead. But don't worry I am working away in the mean time and will bring you no 3 or the 'detox series' in a few days. x

In the same way that minimal make-up only looks good on a flawless face, minimal decor only really works if the architectural bones and features have what it takes. And in my opinion this place certainly does. Flooded with natural light, to-die-for floors {sigh}, tall ceilings, and structural beauty all makes up for lack of decorational detail don't you think!?

The house was built in 1915 and was thoroughly renovated by owner Stefan Söderberg (founder of Swedish fashion label Hope) when he bought it in 1998. The place was gutted and painted crisp white, before it was decorated with a mix of designer classics, modern & vintage treasures in true Scandinavian manner. 
I just die over those copper pendants and the cool factor of the mid-century side-board (storage unit)..

Though my personal preference may be a little more 'dressed' than this, I truly appreciate the simplistic beauty of a bare home. It has a soothing effect on my senses and feels very zen to my soul, whilst it also is fiercely Swedish. How can I resist.. ha!

Photography: Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer

Sourced via: Interiorsmagasinet Norge

Warm hugs to all!

xx Charlotta

Norwegian house tour..

Hello luvies! As most of you know I have a real weakness for Norway. There is just something about the country and its people that make me feel like I belong. The years I lived in the divine mountain village of Lillehammer were some of the happiest of my life, and I have treasured friends and memories from there that will last for ever.

A few days ago I came a cross a lovely house tour that ran in a reasonably recent issue of the Norwegian edition of 'Elle Decoration'. It features the home of ceramic designer Silje Aune Eriksen and has such a nice personality and warmth to it.

Of course the stunning slate kitchen floor {love}, the exposed beams, skylights, and slanted roof make it instantly stand out, but I also really like the simplistic & neutral base with the pops of neon and the odd rare item.

The vaulted kitchen window is wonderful and my eyes also kissed those little wooden pine trees on the kitchen bench. Aren't they cute!?

Also note the irregularity to the architectural bones - there seem to be angles, curves and slants in almost every room. The wooden floor is on the bias near the dining area (see top image) and the ceiling in the kitchen (above) also seems to take an off direction near the window. I really like that.

The ceramic milk cartons are so much fun and are Silje's own design. As are the individual cup cake molds on the bottom shelf in the image below.

As I mentioned to my close bloggie friend Stacey the other day I have a real weakness for built-in bookshelves like the ones below. And my heart leaps also at the sight of the slanted window/skylight by the dining area.

All in all this place seems to be a wonderful mix of unexpected features, Scandinavian tradition, and designer items. In fact there are a quite a few pieces by up-and-coming designers in this place.

Images styled by Kristen Visdal and shot by Trine Thorsen.

Also, see Silje's own blog HERE and shop some of her designs HERE.

Back soon with the next post in the 'detox series', and I promise it will be a lot lighter than the last one.. ;)

Hugs and happiness to you my dears!

xx Charlotta

Lightness

Hello hello! We woke up to yet another bright and glorious Springlike morning here in Sweden. The sun is warm and the air is full of birdsong. It's just marvelous and it fills me with happy energy!

Days like today I find myself drawn to light, airy and sunny places like the one below. One day I will own a family retreat like this, where happy memories and good times will be etched into the sun-kissed walls!

I really like this home - the architectural bones, the textures, colours, and open floorplan with generous living areas. And just generally the relaxed breezy decor. It is elegant without being rigid or pretentious, and filled with a lovely warmth & freshness through out.

The balance between smooth & rough, warm & cold, edgy and traditional is lovely. Where things could easily become a little too 'safe' and 'decorated' (don't you hate that..!), I find this house has subtle twists that make it all work.

I think it also wins on keeping a scaled back approach. There are just enough things to keep the impression warm & inviting, without overdressing. The soothing & neutral colour palette through out the house also helps pulling it all together. It just makes the overall impression relaxed and inviting.

Typical for a Swede, I am mad about stripes - it is in our genes - and these black/white striped chairs went straight to my heart. As did the fish sculpture, the olive tree and the bleached & polished concrete floor *I just love concrete (!) and find it can be used in so many creative ways. It's eco friendly too.*

The 'peeled off' simplicity of the kitchen is fabulous. And the lack of clutter leaves a fresh crispness that awakens my culinary creativity!

Though this bedroom may be on the brink of being too romantic for me, I am in love with the air of it. And the layout! Those amazing industrial double doors and that small window next to the bed are heaven. Adding a simple sisal rug, raw wooden beams and minimal walls are clever ways to scale down the otherwise refined look. I would perhaps have added a more modern bedside lamp, and perhaps an edgy pillow or bedspread to give it all some more depth. Otherwise I think the balance is just right don't you!?

My regular visitors will know I have a real weakness for free standing bathtubs placed in front of a generous window. Add to that the slanted roof, those fab taps by the farmer style sinks, hints of grey and we have perfection. 

Last but not least.. I can so picture my family gather around this table. What a warm and happy place to share a meal (after a few laps in the pool..*sigh*)!

All images via El Mueble

Have a beautiful week everyone!

xx Charlotta

Spanish home tour..

Hello darlings! I am sorry for being such a lousy blog friend these days. I feel as if I haven't really had a chance to regularly catch up with you since I moved to Sweden back in July. I want you all to know that I read your posts regularly, only I am not able to comment as often as I used to. I will make an effort to change this as I know that the exchange of thoughts and lovely comments is what blogging is really about. And I miss doing it!

My husband (Marshall, or 'Treats' as I prefer to call him..!) is here in Sweden for a couple of weeks and life is fabulous. It's simply heaven to be a 'family' again and the kids are floating on cloud 49! :)
So today's post won't be extensive - just this house tour from a lovely & warm home in Girona (Emporda region), Spain. As you know I have a real weakness for this kind of simple rusticity and I would love to own a small but lovingly restored place like this somewhere in the South of Europe.. Enjoy!

Credits: Coffee via Cox and Cox (UK) and housetour via Fresh Home.

Warm hugs from Sweden.

xx Charlotta

100% personality..

In stark contrast to my previous post, here's a home that is all but restrained..! It may not be something I'd rate as my personal dream home, but what a quirky and interesting place people!. I just love the passion and joy behind the creation of this warm and quirky family home, and can only imagine the wonderful stories behind the scenes..!

Fireplace from France, purpouse made circular art (back right) from Spanish cow hides, rug from Morocco, the arm chairs French market finds, candle sticks from Berlin.. in short, this antique timber house now hosts treasures from all corners of the world. Do you think the priest could have ever imagined when he built it way back when..!?! :)

After 10 happy years in San Francisco, Ingvild & Olaf felt their homeland calling (I can so relate..!) and had a strong desire to return to the Nordic quietness and landscape. They longed to live in the country side and found a large piece of land in the forest just West of Oslo. All they needed then was a house - an old one with lots of character..

Excuse the poor quality of my scan.. but this picture was not part of Sköna Hem's digital gallery.. This is the kind of house onto which you want to toss a couple of sheep that will keep the grass trimmed.. :)

They responded to an ad for a 'Timber built preacher's-den on the mountain, early 17th cent', though found the 'house' had in fact been de-mounted into a pile of timber (!). But they bought it anyway and started the painstaking job of first moving it (the pile..) to their forest patch, and then piecing it together. How courageous! 
The result is a genuinely unique and charming two story home with tangible soul and so much personality.

Ingvild is an interior designer and Olaf an astrologer/psychologist (wonderful collective knowledge here, don't you think!?!), and together with an architect friend they designed large windows that were set into the timber frame to allow the forest to merge with the inside. In fact these people love the forest so much that they actually sleep outside during the warmer months of the year. I remember doing just that too when I was a little girl, and it was such an adventure and I loved watching the night sky in my sleeping bag! Have you ever tried?

These people are sleeping on hay people..! Even the bed head is made of hay, and then covered in fabric.. 

They also 'up-cycled' old building materials, vintage finds, antiques, hand-me-downs, and second hand buys. They became so good at it that it evolved into a business of importing & selling European vintage and demolition materials. One can only imagine the treasures they come across!

All images, but my dreadful scan of the house, from Sköna Hem digital gallery.

Have a fabulous and quirky weekend darlings.

Hope you are up to fun things!

xx Charlotta

Restraint..

Hi darlings. How's your week rolling?

I came across this minimal loft in the renowned 'Flowerbox' building in the East Village NY and so want to hear your thoughts.. Zen or Zzzz..?

 Photos: Udom (represented by Cornelia Adams) via Loft Life.  

For the full article click HERE.

Happy rest of the week & hugs to all.

xx Charlotta

Madrid loft..

Hi lovelies. Just stumbled across this beautiful loft in Madrid, Spain. Don't you just love the use of  red/orange, white, black and natural wood!?!

Am also smitten with this large white piece of art. It relaxes me and I love the circular detail. I might just try to replicate something like this for my bare walls in our new place here in Sweden.. I promise to share the result if I achieve something reasonable, though it may take some time as our consignment is still making its way from Sydney to Stockholm by ship.

The black/white piece on top of the vintage luggage is also very nice, and I love the tension between it and the fun little desk lamp. Simple yet impactful.

And don't you love the follow through in the bike.. Colour co-ordination done by a pro.. :)

Have a great rest of the week my darlings. 
Lots of love from Sweden.

xx Charlotta 

via Nuevo Estilio